Kim Kerbis

Kim Kerbis

Broker Associate
lake effect chicago, @properties

During the first 15 years of her real estate career, Kim Kerbis developed a reputation as an outstanding buyer’s agent. She has been named a Chicago Association of Realtors Top Producer every year since 1998, and in 2016, Kerbis was named the No. 1 individual agent in her office at @properties. In the last five years, her focus has been on listing properties. “I have developed a reliable and consistent listing protocol where 80 percent of my listings sell within one week, over list price, and with multiple offers,” she says.

Kerbis carries that professionalism, determination and drive into her business, lake effect chicago, which she co-founded to “provide good old-fashioned, concierge-style customer service in a digital age.”

It was her mother, architect Gertrude Lempp Kerbis, who sparked Kerbis’ interest in real estate as a teenager. Her mother was developing a small condo project in Lincoln Park. “My sister and I helped with the open houses each weekend,” Kerbis says. “This was in the late 1970s, when interest rates were in the high teens. It was a tough market, but we prevailed. At age 13, I learned firsthand the value of a consistent work ethic.”

A teacher at heart, Kerbis has a sincere desire to educate her clients about trends, neighborhoods and specific properties. “An educated client makes more informed decisions during what can be an emotional process,” she says. “I teach a class on how to work with buyer clients at @properties. Teaching the next generation of agents is fun and rewarding. We all benefit when the level of professionalism in our industry is raised.”

Kerbis contributes to her profession at the national level as a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Realtors and on the local level as a member of the CAR Professional Standards committee. She holds several professional designations, including Certified Residential Specialist, Certified Negotiation Expert, Graduate of the Realtor Institute and Accredited Buyer Representative.

Kerbis dedicates herself to the Francis Parker Alumni Association, working to expand the student scholarship fund. She was recently elected to the school’s board of trustees. Kerbis also enjoys tennis and Pilates.